A posting last week on Facebook about a mountain lion “prowling” Fountain Hills has caused quite a stir among some Internet users, but the Arizona Game and Fish Department said nothing out of the ordinary has been reported here.

The posting referred to a “wildlife trapper” working near the Boys & Girls Club branch in the Four Peaks neighborhood and that a mountain lion was being blamed for the death of a dog and a cat.

Bill Andres, public information officer for AZGFD, confirmed that a resident had phoned in a mountain lion sighting March 15 on Fountain Hills Blvd.

A wildlife manager was dispatched to town to investigate but nothing could be confirmed.

A mountain lion sighting also was reported several months ago in north Scottsdale.

“Mountain lions do live in Arizona,” Andres said. “When they do something out of the ordinary, then we’ll get concerned and look into it.

“If cats and dogs are being taken out of yards, then we would get involved. But with a sighting, there isn’t much we can do.

“We have three levels of consideration – sighting, encounter and an attack.

“We know mountain lions live in the area. They cover a lot of territory.”

Just like coyotes, bobcats, javelinas and snakes, Fountain Hills is home to desert wildlife because of its abundant washes and because of much open space into the McDowells, toward the county park area to the north and onto the Fort McDowell Indian Community.

Under normal circumstances, wildlife will generally avoid human encounters.

Andres said it’s important to remind residents not to place food outdoors to feed wildlife.

Mountain lions most often pass through human-occupied space, but may stay longer if they have access to food, water, or shelter.

According to the department’s website, food sources found near people’s homes may include deer, javelina, rabbits, unsecured domestic animals or livestock.

Water for drinking can include a swimming pool, fountain, pond, or pet’s water bowl.

Mountain lions might use “cave-like” areas beneath sheds, unused buildings, and storm drains, or elevated wooden patios, for shelter.

Other factors that may contribute to mountain lions presence around humans include:

*Drought - Wildlife will come into urban fringe areas to search for food and water.

*Wildfires - Arizona wildfires damage vital habitat and force animals into new areas.

*Habituation to humans through close contact, exposure and increased development near wildlife habitat.